Washington hopes the UN will impose sanctions on seven cargo ships sailing from North Korea to China

Reuters reported that a U.S. State Department official said on Monday that the United States will ask the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee to impose sanctions on seven ships suspected of violating UN embargoes against North Korea in the coming days.

Washington hopes the UN will sanction seven ships exporting goods from North Korea to China. A U.S. official who did not want to be named said that these seven ships illegally export coal and iron ore from North Korea to China, which brings Pyongyang between $200 million and $400 million in revenue each year.

The official said, "These designations are not bureaucratic posturing, but rather to ensure accountability in cases of violation of UN sanctions and to stop export activities that directly fund North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs."

However, the Security Council Sanctions Committee, composed of 15 member states, operates by consensus, and North Korea's allies Russia and China are likely to reject the U.S. request. The Russian and Chinese missions to the United Nations in New York have not responded to Reuters' request for comment.

North Korea has been under UN sanctions since 2006 due to its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. Over the years, these sanctions have been continuously strengthened, but China and Russia have urged the easing of sanctions in an attempt to persuade Pyongyang to resume nuclear-free negotiations.

Sanctions imposed by the Security Council include a ban on North Korea's exports of coal, iron ore, lead, textiles, and seafood, as well as restrictions on North Korea's imports of crude oil and refined petroleum products.

The Security Council can freeze assets on board ships, prohibit ships from entering ports, and require the flag state of the ship to revoke the ship's flag.

For several months, the United States has stated that it intends to propose new ships as targets for sanctions to the United Nations.

North Korea, which possesses nuclear weapons, has so far ignored President Trump's request for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and has strengthened its conventional military capabilities and missile capabilities.

Source: rfi

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847822366106636/

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